Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center had the highest rate in the region at 4.4 infections per 1,000 patient hours.

Pocono Medical Center's rate has fallen steadily since 2008, the earliest numbers available in the report.

Statewide, the overall number and rate of health care-associated infections acquired while receiving medical care decreased more than 3 percent, according to the Department of Health.

"The findings in this report highlight the continued progress Pennsylvania is making in improving the quality of care in hospitals across the state," Acting Secretary of Health Michael Wolf said.

About one out of every 20 hospitalized patients will contract a hospital-acquired infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hospitals in Pennsylvania are required to report the infections to the Department of Health through the CDC's National Health Care Safety Network.

The report showed that 72 percent of all Pennsylvania health care employees received influenza vaccine in the 2011-12 flu season. The hospitals with the highest vaccination coverage have mandatory vaccination policies.

Starting in 2013, all hospitals receiving in-patient payments from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be required to submit data on health care worker vaccination to the same system, according to the department.